The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-06-04

scalded her hand in the steam of the
teakettle. and who, naturally. was dis
posed to blame her husband for both
accidents. what else are your"
Elihu's mild blue eyes roved wei the
fields that he had sowed. reaped and
moved that year, and every year since
his beloved fathers death.
"Well. l don't know" ho said slow
". Il do my work and keep my farm
up, a. well as the rest Of my ~neighbors
do"
"And 60 to the store, and sit there
all dav long. to gossip with your Jim
Hunters, while Tn waiting here for
forty things, and obliged to get your
dinner twice over for you in one day."
rejoined Hepsey, setting the warmed
up "boiled DISH on the table with a
bang that thoroughly testified to the
strength of the yellow ''nappy' that
held it. "And standing there, now,
incoming about the sunset, when any
fool might know that water was want
ed from the we'll before teal"
I'll bring the water, Hepsey."
1t was the ',soft answer" although
1t did not ''turn away WRATH" so far
as words were concerned. But the
tone in which it was spoken betrayed
rising temper on MI. Beston's part
He took the pail, turned the east
corner Of the house on his way to the
well-room. and Hepsey saw him no
more.
As he walked along. with his eyes
upon the ground. q strang process was
going on in Elihu Beston's mind.
During the ten years Of their married
life. he had endured Hepsey's contin-
ual 'nagging." rs 3 matter Of course,
with no attempt At rebellion.
But. on this evening his heart was
softened-full Of old memories, old
dreams. and hopes Of plans, long since
laid aside and we'll nigh forgotten. till
the four hours conversation with the
friend Of those early days had recalled
them. and with them the squirt of en-
t~husiastic. adventurous daring that
had lent them their beauty and their
life.
Never had this one discomfort Of his
otherwise prosperous and happy life
so Jared upon him as now.
IF l was to 60 away, as Hunters
brother has gone, and come back rich.
she would have a higher opinion of
me-" he thought, glancing back once
more at the sunset light upon his
home.
He set the tin pail down softly by the
door, and strobe away across
The fields toward the distant town.
Half on hour later, his wife went forth,
impatiently, to call him in to eat. An
hour later. and she was wildly calling
his name, rs she, with her hastily sum-
moned neighbors, sought him up and
Town the farm. But search and seek
IS she might, with the late repentance
born Of love and tears, it was all in
vain. He was gone! No one in Fair
mount knew less or more than that OF
Elihu Deaton from that autumn after
noon.
Two years passed slowly by. Tho
rood people Of Fairmount resembled
very other people in one respect,
md rarely paid any great or long-sus-
aimed attention to the troubles OF their
so long as their own affairs
'emained In a beautifully prosperous
tate.
Consequently. the place which Elihu
3eston had filed in the small COM
nuuity, was soon filed up. Every one
rev used to thinking Of him ss they
Of the dead. No one expected
hat the mystery Of his fate would ever
70 unraveled-in this world. at least.
No ono except his wife. His wife.
rho VA already designsted in the
minds Of many, II not In their actual
~ THE Widow Bsaton."
Elihu's disappearance was not to
,er, the profound mystery that II was
iii others, They had lived much 70
being on . by-rosd. at
ONE distance from the village, and on
he rare occasions when they had
or extra hands" Mr.. B %.
On had treated hsr husband with all
.ue respect.
She knew. and che only, hew often
I'd had tried the patient kindly man
) The very Last vsrse Of endurance BY
sr ecrid tongue. Over and over
rain. evsa IN thsss days. she had ris'
Il . bright sunny moFaing. rssolv.